Toon Earn Their Spurs

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NEWCASTLE United put a dent in Tottenham Hotspurs' Champions League aspirations with a convincing 3-1 victory at St. James' Park.

The Magpies never looked back from the moment Lee Bowyer got on the end of a Charles N'Zogbia cross after only 66 seconds.

Spurs were level when skipper Robbie Keane headed in at the Leazes End in the 19th minute - but that was the signal for United to turn up the first-half tempo.

Shola Ameobi restored Newcastle's lead in the 25th minute when Paul Robinson failed to hold a Nolberto Solano drive, and then Alan Shearer netted his 203rd goal for the club from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after Edgar Davids had barged over Bowyer.

Spurs' task got even tougher when they were reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute when Michael Dawson picked up a second caution for a foul on Alan Shearer. Former Toon midfielder Jermaine Jenas endured a miserable return to Gallowgate, fluffing a second-half sitter as Glenn Roeder's side ended a losing run of four games in style.

SECOND-HALF ACTION UPDATES

90min+3 - Lee Clark concedes a foul on the edge of the boxfor a foul on Mido. Jermaine Jenas curls the ball high into the Gallowgate End and it just about sums up his thoroughly miserable return to St. James' Park.

90min+2 - Glenn Roeder gives Michael Chopra a late run-out. Off comes Charles N'Zogbia, who has had a super game.

88min - Spurs withdraw Edgar Davids and send on Danny Murphy.

87min - Newcastle are looking for a fourth goal as Robbie Elliott gets upfield only to be crowded out inside the penalty area.

82min - Lee Clark shows great vision to seize on a loose ball and release Lee Bowyer, With Young-Pyo Lee breathing down his neck, the midfielder fires in a low angled drive that Paul Robinson saves low to his right. At the other end, Jermain Defoe skips away from Robbie Elliott and Peter Ramage only to fire weakly at Shay Given.

77min - Charles N'Zogbia runs on to a forward ball from Shola Ameobi and steers it into the feet of the advancing Lee Bowyer inside the Tottenham box. The midfielder is crowded out, however, and Young-Pyo Lee clears.

75min - Spurs are back on the attack and when a crossfield ball by Michael Carrick reaches Edgar Davids, Shay Given takes no chances with the Dutchman's angled volley and tips it behind. From Spurs' next attack, Jermaine Jenas gets forward, but Peter Ramage cuts out his attempted pass for Mido.

73min - Young-Pyo Lee does well to win a corner when faced with Lee Clark and Stephen Carr. Peter Ramage heads the first flag-kick behind before Craig Moore nods the second one clear.

70min - Spurs skipper Robbie Keane is the latest visitor to be booked for dissent by Mike Dean.

67min - Robbie Elliott blazes into the Leazes End from 22 yards after good playh by Lee Bowyer, Nolberto Solano and Lee Clark around the Spurs box. A better option for the left-back might have been knocking it short to Alan Shearer.

64min - Glenn Roeder makes a change as Emre is withdrawn and Lee Clark takes over in central midfield for Newcastle.

62min - United's free-kick sees Emre strike the Spurs defensive wall before Robbie Elliott recycles possession to Alan Shearer who breaks inside past Young-Pyo Lee from the left and crosses for Peter Ramage who is denied a first senior goal by a fantastic save from Paul Robinson, who flings himself to his left to claw away the header.

61min - SPURS RED CARD:Alan Shearer turns away from Michael Dawson to reach a lofted pass from Stephen Carr and the visiting centre-back is shown a second yellow card of the day. Mido is also booked for dissent.

58min - Spurs haven't given this game up and Robbie Keane is desperately unlucky not to grab his second of the game when he rifles in a low shot from the edge of the area that flashes past Shay Given's left-hand post.

54min - United lose possession from the flag-kick and Spurs break quickly upfield. When Michael Carrick's forward ball sees Robbie Elliott head tamely into the feet of Jermaine Jenas, the former Toon star rounds Shay Given and looks a certain scorer - only to scoop his shot into the side netting from an angle. The Gallowgate End rings to the sound of mocking laughter as the home support savour a shocking miss.

53min - Great play by the Magpies sees Lee Bowyer release Alan Shearer in the inside right channel. The skipper delivers a low cross to the near post aimed at Nolberto Solano, but Michael Dawson makes a good challenge and Anthong Gardner puts the ball safely behind.

50min - Emre is harshly adjudged to have fouled Michael Carrick to concede a free-kick just inside the Newcastle half. Carrick lofts it forward and when it drops for Edgar Davids to have a strike from the edge of the penalty area, Lee Bowyer makes a flying block.

46min - Spurs are first to threaten after the break when Robbie Keane crosses from the right and Craig Moore can only head clear as far as Aaron Lennon. The Aussie quickly makes amends by dispossessing the visiting winger.

FIRST-HALF ACTION UPDATES

45min - Michael Carrick runs from deep and gets to the edge of the box before his is felled by Craig Moore for a free-kick. Edgar Davids plays it low to Jermaine Jenas and his low drive is deflected into the path of Mido who lays it back for Robbie Keane to rattle the crossbar from 10 yards.

40min - Play is halted as Jermaine Jenas needs treatment following a collision with Shola Ameobi. United put the ball out and are then angry that Robbie Keane at the restart knocks it deep into the corner for a Newcastle throw-in penned in their own territory instead of kicking it down to Shay Given. Skipper Alan Shearer makes his feelings known and then an apologetic Keane takes the throw from Robbie Elliott and puts it behind for a goal kick.

37min - Shola Ameobi almost gets a second - and what a superb goal it would have been. He races into the box and collects an Alan Shearer pass before gliding away from Michael Carrick, only to then fire straight into the arms of Paul Robinson at his near post.

36min - Emre collects a yellow card after a deliberate handball on halfway.

33min - Rampant is the only way to describe United in this opening half hour. Another great attack sees Shola Ameobi touch a ball into the path of Nolberto Solano and Young-Pyo Lee has to concede a corner to prevent the ball reaching Charles N'Zogbia. A minute later Michael Dawson goes into the book for a foul on Alan Shearer.

30min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (3-1): The ball is placed on the spot by who else but Alan Shearer. He composes himself, runs in and lashes the ball to Paul Robinson's right and rattles the back of the Gallowgate End net. It's goal number 203 for the Magpies in his 300th Premiership appearance.

29min - NEWCASTLE PENALTY - Great rapid attacking play from the Magpies sees Alan Shearer put the ball out wide to Nolberto Solano, and when he plays it forward to Lee Bowyer he is inexplicably barged over by Edgar Davids and Mike Dean points to the spot.

25min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-1): The Magpies are back in front as Lee Bowyer wins a great tackle inside the Spurs half and feeds Nolberto Solano. The Peruvian drills in a 22-yard strike that Paul Robinson cannot hold and Shola Ameobi reacts first ahead of Anthony Gardner to net the rebound. Ameobi's bravery sees him take a nasty whack on the ankle from the Spurs defender and he needs treatment before being able to continue.

23min - Newcastle are close to getting their noses in front again. Charles N'Zogbia has had an inspired start and this time his low cross is met by Nolberto Solano, but alert defending by Anthony Gardner and Young-Pyo Lee prevent the Peruvian from scoring at close range.

19min - SPURS GOAL (1-1): The Magpies are stunned as the visitors level. Aaron Lennon twists and turns Stephen Carr inside out and then crosses from the left where an unmarked Robbie Keane heads home from six yards.

17min - More good approach play from Newcastle sees the ball reach Robbie Elliott. The left-back delivers a great cross that is just missed by Alan Shearer at the near post and Nolberto Solano is unable to turn goalwards.

14min - United are dominating play and almost get a second goal. Nolberto Solano finds space on the right and stands up a cross for Alan Shearer, who wins the ball in the air and then volleys goalward when it comes down, only for Michael Dawson to make a timely block for the visitors.

11min - Newcastle are furious when Lee Bowyer is denied a penalty. Alan Shearer feeds Shola Ameobi who puts Bowyer through, but he appears to be held back by Edgar Davids and he cannot get enough power on the ball to slide it past Paul Robinson. In Newcastle's next attack, Bowyer has a shot defelected behind of Anthony Gardner for a corner - but Bowyer is still vexed with the official over his failure to award a spot-kick.

8min - Mido does well to prevent a ball from Edgar Davids going out of play on the Milburn Stand touchline but when he crosses from the left Robbie Elliott cushions a header back to Shay Given. Shola Ameobi then wins a free-kick for Newcastle, but before it is taken, referee Mike Dean reaches for his notebook and cautions Craig Moore, presumably for dissent.

6min - Spurs launch their first serious attack when Robbie Keane picks up the ball just inside United's penalty box. He tries to thread a ball through to Mido, but Craig Moore reads the situation and cuts out the danger.

5min - Newcastle try to get going again for a second goal as Alan Shearer tees up a chance for Shola Ameobi. The tall striker tries his luck from 25 yards but his low effort is wide.

2min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): What a start for the Magpies as Lee Bowyer gets us off to a flying start with only 66 seconds played! Charles N'Zogbia starts the move with a ball infield that Alan Shearer cleverly dummies for Nolberto Solano, the Peruvian puts the ball forward into the inside left channel, where N'Zogbia continues his run to ghost past Anthony Gardner and his low cross is turned in by Bowyer ahead of Michael Dawson. It is the Londoner's first goal since netting in an Intertoto Cup game against Deportivo La Coruna way back in August.

Newcastle United get the game underway attacking the Gallowgate End. Spurs' players have a pre-game huddle, but the United team have dispensed with their recent policy of having one.

TEAM NEWS

GLENN Roeder made two changes to the team that lost 3-1 at Charlton last weekend for Saturday's game with Tottenham.

Robbie Elliott returned to the side after missing the game at The Valley through suspension, replacing Jean Alain Boumsong at the heart of the back four alongside Craig Moore, who was making his home debut.

Scott Parker missed out after it was confirmed on Friday that he was suffering from glandular fever, so Charles N'Zogbia started the game in midfield.

For Tottenham, skipper Ledley King missed out through injury, while former United midfielder Jermaine Jenas was in Martin Jol's starting XI.